a sewar ?

Freddy · 8th July 2009, 06:57 PM

Yesterday, I took a long drive to Holland to get a keris I bought on a Belgian internetsite. The seller told me he had some other stuff, too. He wondered if I was interested...and I was

When I finally got there, I found (amongst other things) this knife. I believe it's a sewar, but I could be wrong. The wooden handle is well carved and resembles a keris handle from Sumatra. The blade is strong and layered (this can be seen on the back of the blade).

Total length : 28,5 cm.

Here are some pics

Freddy · 8th July 2009, 07:02 PM

Here are some more pics of the handle which is really beautiful.

As you may notice, there a initials onthe back the handle : T P

Also on the front (on the chest of the figure), I can see a letter : K, B or R

Has anyone seen something like this ?

Henk · 8th July 2009, 09:11 PM

Freddy,

Looks more as a Tumbok Lada. The keris hilt doesn't belong there. I think the letters are a later addition on the hilt. Could be ordered by a Dutch soldier. Kind of souvenir bringback in those days.

Freddy · 8th July 2009, 09:19 PM

I asked the person who sold the pieces to me where he got them.

They were given as a kind of payment for services he had rendered years ago to an eldery Indonesian man. He was told the pieces came to Holland when this man came to live in Europe.

The seller had them quite some years as he is now also retired.

Sajen · 9th July 2009, 12:14 AM

Hello Freddy,

when you follow strong to Albert Zonneveld it is a Sewar. Other, like Henk, say that it is a Tumbok Lada. But who I am to give the correct classification. But maybe Albert read this threat and can clear this!? See also this threat:
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8203
The handle is indeed not original, it's a keris handle from Cirebon. The original handle is maybe long time before broken and the owner give it this handle.
Nice dagger!

sajen

Freddy · 10th July 2009, 07:54 PM

I've been examining the handle on this knife and I'm not sure if it is wood. It's a very hard material. Could it be bone or even ivory ?

Is there anyway to tell without damaging the piece ?

Rick · 10th July 2009, 08:12 PM

A hot pin to the underside ?
Smells like burning hair ?
Could be horn .

If it were bone wouldn't the core be visible somewhere ?

Sajen · 10th July 2009, 08:16 PM

Hello Freddy,

from the pictures it look like wood. When it will be ivory from elephant I miss the typical cracks. How look the handle in up from his head? You can see any porosity? This will be a sign that it is bone or antler. Is it possible to remove the handle from the tang? You try the hot needle proof?

sajen

Freddy · 10th July 2009, 08:45 PM

Here's a pic of the back of the handle. Between the first and second row of 'curls' there's a small imperfection. What do you think, Sanjen ?

Sajen · 11th July 2009, 12:57 AM

When I look to this picture it's possible that this handle is from bone or antler.
No change to remove the handle?

sajen

asomotif · 11th July 2009, 01:08 AM

Hi Freddy,

Nice one.
I would call it a sewar, regardless of the type of handle.
but that again I am not very strict with all these names.

Handle looks very much like wood to me.
Wood can be very hard.
Take a normal javanese ukiran and try to make a dent in it with your fingernail.
Your nail might break, but that will be all

Ps. couldn't you stick to the african arms

keris fever all over again

kai · 19th July 2009, 01:06 AM

Hello Freddy,

That's a nice sewar blade. If it does fit the scabbard well, it may be Minang Kabau.

I agree that the hilt seems to be a later replacement.

Regards,
Kai

8th July 2009, 06:57 PM	#1
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	a sewar ? Yesterday, I took a long drive to Holland to get a keris I bought on a Belgian internetsite. The seller told me he had some other stuff, too. He wondered if I was interested...and I was When I finally got there, I found (amongst other things) this knife. I believe it's a sewar, but I could be wrong. The wooden handle is well carved and resembles a keris handle from Sumatra. The blade is strong and layered (this can be seen on the back of the blade). Total length : 28,5 cm. Here are some pics

9th July 2009, 12:14 AM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Hello Freddy, when you follow strong to Albert Zonneveld it is a Sewar. Other, like Henk, say that it is a Tumbok Lada. But who I am to give the correct classification. But maybe Albert read this threat and can clear this!? See also this threat: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=8203 The handle is indeed not original, it's a keris handle from Cirebon. The original handle is maybe long time before broken and the owner give it this handle. Nice dagger! sajen Last edited by Sajen; 9th July 2009 at 12:27 AM.

10th July 2009, 08:12 PM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Perhaps A hot pin to the underside ? Smells like burning hair ? Could be horn . If it were bone wouldn't the core be visible somewhere ?

8th July 2009, 07:02 PM	#2
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Here are some more pics of the handle which is really beautiful. As you may notice, there a initials onthe back the handle : T P Also on the front (on the chest of the figure), I can see a letter : K, B or R Has anyone seen something like this ?

8th July 2009, 09:11 PM	#3
Henk Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,209	Freddy, Looks more as a Tumbok Lada. The keris hilt doesn't belong there. I think the letters are a later addition on the hilt. Could be ordered by a Dutch soldier. Kind of souvenir bringback in those days.

8th July 2009, 09:19 PM	#4
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I asked the person who sold the pieces to me where he got them. They were given as a kind of payment for services he had rendered years ago to an eldery Indonesian man. He was told the pieces came to Holland when this man came to live in Europe. The seller had them quite some years as he is now also retired.

10th July 2009, 07:54 PM	#6
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	I've been examining the handle on this knife and I'm not sure if it is wood. It's a very hard material. Could it be bone or even ivory ? Is there anyway to tell without damaging the piece ?

10th July 2009, 08:16 PM	#8
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	Hello Freddy, from the pictures it look like wood. When it will be ivory from elephant I miss the typical cracks. How look the handle in up from his head? You can see any porosity? This will be a sign that it is bone or antler. Is it possible to remove the handle from the tang? You try the hot needle proof? sajen

10th July 2009, 08:45 PM	#9
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Here's a pic of the back of the handle. Between the first and second row of 'curls' there's a small imperfection. What do you think, Sanjen ?

11th July 2009, 12:57 AM	#10
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,779	When I look to this picture it's possible that this handle is from bone or antler. No change to remove the handle? sajen

11th July 2009, 01:08 AM	#11
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,225	Hi Freddy, Nice one. I would call it a sewar, regardless of the type of handle. but that again I am not very strict with all these names. Handle looks very much like wood to me. Wood can be very hard. Take a normal javanese ukiran and try to make a dent in it with your fingernail. Your nail might break, but that will be all Ps. couldn't you stick to the african arms keris fever all over again

19th July 2009, 01:06 AM	#12
kai Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,254	Hello Freddy, That's a nice sewar blade. If it does fit the scabbard well, it may be Minang Kabau. I agree that the hilt seems to be a later replacement. Regards, Kai